Olympic Commuter Fever

Well,what a two weeks; the last working days of the Olympics,many medals for Team GB and also legendary standards on the commuting side.  My trains haven’t been delayed, they have been no busier than usual -  a slight exchange for families with commuters – but I’ve probably preferred that to be honest.

Although sometimes the thought of non-commuters getting our trains(this feeling, I can only compare to how gypsies must feel about ‘gorgers’) is horrible, and leaves me with a little tingle down my spine (and not in a good way) as they are unaware of train etiquette, speed nor volume control.  It has actually been refreshing, as they have brought Olympic spirit.  I have seen people with face paintings, flags and all kinds of Team GB clothing – and I am going to say it but I have enjoyed it – watching people excited about Olympics rather than watching the misery guts that I sometimes get the train with, has greatly improved my commuting experience.  I hope that the Paralympics also brings me the same buzz.

Another tip that has been really helpful for me and chilled me out a bit is Twitter, Greater Anglia have retweeted any small delays, status updates around Stratford, all fellow tweeters have been much appreciated.  So if you don’t have a Twitter account, then I advise that you create one and follow @greateranglia, you can also follow me too whilst you are at it @chelmsfordienne  !

Olympics - day 3

Now if anyone who is going to test the tubes/rail with a critical eye - it's me, but do you know what, I am going to do a positively happy blog post..

I know we are only Day 3 into London Olympiad, but can I just say (and yes, I am eating my hat) that I am rather shocked by the lack of people today.

My evening tube journey (at peak time) towards the Olympic Park was a delight - less people than usual on the central line, and a little less on the train too.

Now I am not sure if this is due to Londoners getting the hell out of London, city slickers leaving early, or there really aren't as many people as they expected.

I read this evening that there are definitely an extra 2 million people who have entered the UK for this...so where are they - oh what do I care - I'm just glad that they're not on my trains.
Here's to a successful Olympics - and to all those of you who are off on holiday - don't come back! ;-)

If you want heads up as to where it will be bad - I have found this site interesting even if not that useful yet!

#happycommuter

Get ahead of The Games!!!

I keep seeing these ‘funny’ adverts for transport suggestions during the Olympics…like suggesting that I should cycle instead of taking the tube because of all the amount of people using public transport, and then to rub salt to my pre-Olympic-Commuter-wounds, I see pictures of escalators rammed with people dressed up as birds. 

(See right, equestrian on escalator, and below, a nice poster telling me to walk part of my 90 minute commute)

 

It doesn’t make me laugh in the slightest (well, perhaps me pretending to be an athlete as per left hand pic is admittedly laughable) it just reminds me what a nightmare travelling in London for the Olympics really is going to be like.  In fairness, yes if I was your standard tourist, or London visitor, I would find these ‘light-hearted’ cartoons rather comical, but really, I think the pictures should be a bit like 'commuter squashed against tube door, underground stations closed, bus queues, frustrated city slickers and me moaning.

I unfortunately work at Bond St, so I am going to be hit hard by the Central Line and Jubilee.  I get off at Stratford in the mornings, and my train stops at Stratford in the evenings.  There is no way on earth I am going to miss this delightful event.   I am just hoping that as the trauma of Olympic travelling sets in, that I start to appreciate this PR/Marketing campaign in order to cheer me up.

We cannot actually predict what it is going to be like, around an extra 2m people will be in London over the Olympics, so this will really be a test for London transport's infrastructure, and a real test on the average commuter’s nerves!  I always like to know what people think is going to happen...so any opinions welcome below...

Please do prepare yourselves for some good old fashioned commuter rants, I reckon I could potentially win a Gold medal for it!